YMCA Chief Executive Ryan Palmer stated, "This sale will allow us to reinvest in more sustainable, impactful, and forward-looking ways of broadening our service provision, better serving both existing and new communities." He emphasized that while the closure is necessary due to soaring maintenance costs and demographic changes, the goal is to redirect resources to better serve the community in innovative ways.
Campaigners argue that the gym is a crucial lifeline for thousands in the area, claiming that the sale to a hotel occurred without member consultation. They highlight the importance of the YMCA's services and facilities, stating, "By signing this petition, you are joining us in calling for a revision of the sale of Central YMCA Club to allow Central YMCA Club to continue providing its vital facility for its thousands of current members, and many more generations to come."
Supporters of the petition voiced their deep emotional connection to the YMCA, with one stating, "Not just a gym but a community. Where does anywhere else like this exist in central London? The closure has to be stopped." Another emphasized, "Central YMCA is a valued community resource that means a lot to so many of us. It helps to keep us active and in good shape. We must save it."
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